# Smart Sudoku

> Advanced Sudoku solver with pattern recognition and efficiency-based scoring. (iPhone/iPad app by CuVee Software.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-sudoku/id457564906 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [CuVee Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/424873503)
- Category: Games, Family, Puzzle
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany)
- Released: 2011-08-25
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-sudoku/id457564906/reviews.md

## What is Smart Sudoku?

Are you familiar with terms like "X-Wing", "2-String Kite", or "Locked Candidates"? If yes, Smart Sudoku is for you. If not, even more so.

Unlike most Sudoku apps, Smart Sudoku helps you solve tough puzzles by not simply revealing cell solutions, but by giving you professional tips. It tells you what patterns to look for in order to eliminate candidates.

Smart Sudokus' unique scoring system ranks your solution not by the time you spent, but by how efficiently you solved the puzzle.

Smart Sudoku comes with hundreds of challenging puzzles built-in. Copying a puzzle from a newspaper is a breeze – think of typing in a few phone numbers.

"Excellent. Very simple to enter puzzles from the newspaper. Candidate numbers are displayed, allowing solutions to really tough puzzles to be solved without the laborious job of setting up candidates." (UK user)


Features:

• Powerful hint system based on the most popular solving strategies
• Very fast manual puzzle entry method (typically 40 seconds or less)
• Multiple squares may be handled simultaneously
• Show or hide candidates anytime while solving the puzzle
• Innovative scoring, based on efficiency of solving instead of time spent
• Copy/paste puzzles in standard text format, incl. "HoDoKu Library Format" and "Simple Sudoku Format"
• Import puzzles from the Internet
• Share partially or fully solved puzzles via e-mail
• 509 puzzles built-in, from easy to almost unsolvable
• Unlimited undo/redo
• Built-in user's manual
• Landscape mode (iPad, Mac, Vision Pro)


Hints
Learn how to eliminate candidates by finding standard patterns. Let Smart Sudoku tell you what pattern to look for next. Still stuck? Smart Sudoku can even show you the squares and numbers involved. The affected squares are selected automatically, so eliminating candidates is a snap. Patterns handled by Smart Sudoku include:

• Naked and Hidden Singles, Pairs, Triples, Quads, and Quintuples
• Locked Candidates Type 1 and 2
• X-Wing
• XY-Wing
• XYZ-Wing
• W-Wing
• Skyscraper
• 2-String Kite
• Swordfish
• Jellyfish
• Empty Rectangle
• Unique Rectangle Type 1 and 2


Input checking
After copying a printed puzzle, Smart Sudoku will tell you whether the puzzle has a unique solution or not (usually caused by a typo or missing number.)


Efficient solving
Smart Sudoku helps you solve Sudokus in a professional way. Never add candidates, only remove them, even from multiple squares in one step. Should you ever get stuck (and no hints are available), let Smart Sudoku solve any square you wish. Or all squares for a given number. Or even the entire puzzle.


Novel scoring method
Unlike many Sudoku apps, Smart Sudoku rates your efficiency in solving a puzzle, not how quickly you do it. Solve one square at a time and your score will remain at zero. Solve as many squares as possible for a given number simultaneously and watch the progress bar grow. To get the maximum of 1000 points requires you to finish each number in a single step. The current score is shown in the title.


Share puzzles
Send an e-mail of a puzzle at any stage to your friends. If partially or fully solved, they'll also get the original puzzle. And, of course, they'll see your score, even a message about your making use of candidates. Recipients may paste the puzzle into their own copy of Smart Sudoku.


Puzzles from the Internet
Smart Sudoku supports the well-established text format for Sudokus (a string of 81 digits and decimal points), as well as export formats used by programs like HoDoKu and Simple Sudoku, giving you access to thousands of puzzles available on the Internet. Just download the text strings and paste them into Smart Sudoku.

## Key features

- Powerful hint system for solving strategies
- Fast manual puzzle entry
- Simultaneous multiple square handling
- Show/hide candidates
- Innovative efficiency-based scoring
- Import puzzles from text and internet
- Unlimited undo/redo

## Chart rankings

- #196 in Top Paid · Family (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (5 of 5)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-sudoku/id457564906/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Top

*2020-02-16*

Gute App, gerade weil man eigene Sudokus importieren kann und auch für diese Löungstipps erhält. Was ich mit noch wünsche:
1. Möglichkeit Sudokus per Kamera zu importieren. 
2. Anpassung der Auflösung der App an iPhone X/XS/11.

### 1/5 — Buggy

*2019-01-26*

Candidates turned on. Tap a number (one of the candidates), tap a square. Square blinks red, remains empty. Turn number off and on again. Tap square again. Blinks red, remains empty. Use solve entire puzzle feature - square fills in with the number I was trying to enter. Delete app.

### 5/5 — Simple and clean design

*2015-10-21*

I was looking for a simple Sudoku app that would allow me to enter a puzzle and solve it like I would using paper and pencil. This one works like a charm with easy entry of the puzzle and straightforward user interface.

### 3/5 — Great start, but needs pencil marks

*2014-12-19*

It's a slick app, I love the copy/paste!! Please add pencil marks!

### 5/5 — Smart sudoku

*2012-12-24*

Excellent. Very simple to enter puzzles from the newspaper.  Candidate numbers are displayed, allowing solutions to really tough puzzles to be solved without the laborious job of setting up candidates.  I haven't found a tough inbuilt puzzle, but that's not what I got it for!

## Frequently asked questions about Smart Sudoku

### What makes Smart Sudoku different from other Sudoku apps?

Smart Sudoku focuses on teaching you advanced solving techniques like 'X-Wing' and 'Locked Candidates' rather than just revealing solutions. Its unique scoring system also prioritizes efficient problem-solving over speed.

### How quickly can I enter a Sudoku puzzle into Smart Sudoku?

The app boasts a very fast manual puzzle entry method, typically taking 40 seconds or less. You can also copy and paste puzzles in standard text formats, including 'HoDoKu Library Format' and 'Simple Sudoku Format'.

### Does Smart Sudoku have ads?

No, Smart Sudoku is ad-free, providing an uninterrupted solving experience. This allows users to focus on the puzzles and learning advanced strategies without any distractions.

### What kind of solving strategies does Smart Sudoku support?

Smart Sudoku supports a wide array of professional solving strategies, including Naked and Hidden Singles, Pairs, Triples, Quads, and Quintuples, as well as advanced techniques like X-Wing, XY-Wing, Swordfish, and Jellyfish.

### Can I import puzzles from the internet into Smart Sudoku?

Yes, Smart Sudoku allows you to import puzzles directly from the internet. This feature expands the number of puzzles available to you beyond the 509 built-in ones.

### What devices is Smart Sudoku available on?

Smart Sudoku is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod. It also supports landscape mode on iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro for a more comfortable viewing experience.

### How does Smart Sudoku's scoring system work?

Unlike many apps that score based on time, Smart Sudoku rates your efficiency. Solving multiple squares simultaneously for a given number increases your score, with a perfect score of 1000 points requiring each number to be completed in a single step.

### What is the age rating for Smart Sudoku?

Smart Sudoku has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users interested in logic puzzles.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.0 — 2026-02-26

• The progress bar now shows how far the puzzle has been solved. Previously, the display referred to the highest score achieved.

• By quadruple tapping the background, the puzzle format can temporarily be switched to using "0" instead of "." for empty cells. This facilitates the exchange of puzzles on the Internet, e.g. Sudoku solvers.

• Adjustments for iOS 26.


Bug fix: 

In iOS 26, the "Check" button didn't work anymore.

### 3.0 — 2024-02-12

• Added 400,000 puzzles - from "Easy" to "Diabolical" - to homepage (use links on info screen)

• Now with 20 backgrounds to choose from (swipe left or right to change)

• Double-tap background to show or hide candidates

• Triple-tap background to deselect squares

• Long-press background to check the puzzle

• A newly pasted puzzle is automatically checked

• Removed obsolete web links on Info screen

• Requires iOS 12.0 or later

### 2.5.1 — 2022-10-01

• Shortened minimum checking time for an entered puzzle to one second.

• Fixed German info screen appearing in place of English screen.

### 2.5 — 2022-09-21

Clearing a non-empty puzzle with the "New" button now asks for confirmation.

### 2.4.1 — 2021-10-03

• iPad mini (2021) compatibility

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## More apps by CuVee Software

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All apps by CuVee Software: https://appshunter.io/developer/424873503

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*